ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9045, 17 May 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

“THE COURT CARDS.” Tho “Court Cards” received a warm welcome back to Wellington on Saturday night, when they opened a return scaeon in the Lira up Upera Hou»e. Alter their tour in the provinces the company seem to be even moio entertaining than when they were here bexore, and . tne new programme is replete with merit. Mis=> lienee Maude, a popular vocal member of the troupe, has lately been absent owing to ilinoss, but it is hoped that she will be welt enough to make her reappearance this evening. Tne outstanding feature of the current P 1 ’ 1 / tormauces is a nautical sceua in which tho male members of tie party are engaged. There is something turly briny about the production; the artists, clad in naval rig-out. gather with pipes and cans around the mess-room table, and the pianist looks a typical salt, in oilskins and sou'-wesler. Everybody was pleased with the turn-out. and as one after another of the impromptu sailors contribute,! his item, lavish applause was forthcoming. Mr Edgar Warwick, who has established a linn . reputation as a jester, was right in his eminent, and tne manner in which ho narrated "How I Found the Pole’’ was rewarded with the most appreciative laughter. Mr George Graystone, who is accustomed to figure in tho role of a basso, demonstrated that lie is by no means devoid of humorous qualities, but, in order that his true character might not b® forgotten, he gave a highly acceptable rendering of "Asleep in the Deep." Mr George Titchener, who is a comedian born, added considerable zest to the turn. Tho tenor, Mr Sydney Maunering. gave several numbers which met with a hearty reception. Air Albert Keats, as pianist, entered thoroughly into the spirit of the scena. and helped it along admirably. The lirst portion ot the eveninir was devoted to a generality of selections, all of an enjoyable .character. Miss Maude Fane, besides being an, attractive eoubrette. is a soprano ot some ability, albeit her voice is utilised in rendering the light, and .frivolous class of music. She sang jiiliy much charm and made an excellent 101 l to Titchener in the comic duet Im Going Away.” Another asset to the chow is Miss Winifred Mtchell, a violiniste, whoso execution is skilful and sympathetic. Chorus work is a strong suit with the male members of the company, who sang “Spin, Spin/’ inK t as. an encore number, “Simple Simon, A. burlesque of a “personally conducted tour created a vast amount of tun; Mr Warwick was well placed as, the conductor and each player had a part which he or she enacted with convincing ability. Variety in the entertainment and versatility in the performers are tne two chief constituents of the Oouit Cards’ success, and there is every reason for supposing that their present season will, be an entirely satisfactory one. • HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. The ctuci attraction ui tne new programme to be presented to-mghc at 1 its Majesty's Theatre by lino Fuller Proprietary is Raul Stanhope s American Revue Company, who win appear -in a new musical burlesque entitled ’tun on a Farm," which is said to give; scope lor the capabilities of the various, members of the company.' Tho piece is said to abound in comedy, which is mostly in the hands of Mr Raul Stanhope and Mr Les Bates. The former will assume the part of Jake Hogan (one of the boys). Rhe latter, will give a representation ot bi Perkins, the constable and leader of the town- During the progress of the Revue a number of new American songs with catchy choruses will be sung,.and M number of pleading ballets will be introduced. Air Harry Ross will play the part of Pete Jennings. Mr Frank Norton will portray the .role of Henri' Fielgarlie. Misssßuby Kennedy in the part oi Ethel Strathmore ’ will bo seen in a congenial role, whilst Miss Fritzee do Guy is cast for her favourite part of Rosie Perkins, in which several opportunities for the introduction of, songs and dances occur.. Among 1 the vocal specialties the /Frisco Quartette will ba heard in a repertoire of part songs, a feature of which will bo the rendition of the "Barcarolle" from the "Tales of Hoffman." In addition to the revue, which occupies the entire second .half of the programme, a number of vaudeville artists will appear, chief among these being Miss Ida Jarvis, a roubrette who is mafcine her .Wellington, uobut, Los Wartxm, the Dentines, Dormer and ' Lloyd,, Merlyn;’ and Vaude and Verne. The same programme Will be presented nightly during the week, and a matinee will bo green on Saturday. The box plan is on view at tho Bristol Piano Company's depot. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. To-day at noon Everybody’s will screen a programme which includes a Keystone comedy and a Reliance newspaper drama. Mabel Normand and ‘‘Fatty’' Arbuckle, the Keystone comedy duo, are featured in “The Simple Life," in which they decide to go on the. land. The amusing antics of this laughable' couple will cause a paroxysm of laughter during the half-hour the picture is screened. The Reliance drama "Boat of the Year” concerns the doings of an American reporter, whose speciality is the elucidation of robbery and murder crimes. In this instance he gets in touch with a big sensational mystery and sets to work to ferret out the criminal. How he works and succeeds makes a thrilling picture. The Gaumont Graphic-, gives the latest hews from Home. A beauty comedy, “Rude Awakening,” and the latest war topicals will also be shown. THE KING’S THEATRE. Anita Stewart, Vitagraph’s leading lady, and a brilliant star caste of other favourite players of that company, will present a realistic train wreck drama entitled "413’’ at this theatre this evening. . The plot deals with Baron Barcellos, an illicit dealer and smuggler of diamonds, who becomes infatuated with Elaine, daughter of a Mr Hall, a diamond merchant. The baron, although carefully searched, gets the gems safely past the Customs, and delivers them to “Four. Thirteen,” the chief of the smugglers’ gang. Later, Elaine becomes engaged to a. secret service agent, and the baron is furiously angry. A certain adventuress, named Tina (in love with the baron), piqued at his preference for Elaine, gives information which enables the gang to be raided. The ringleader, the mysterious “413," endeavours to escape by stealing a locomotive at an empty railway station. The authorities wire ahead of tho flying engine, which, driven by “413" at sixty miles an hour, strikes an open switch and plunges down a 50ft embankment—a total wreck. The end of the drama provides an unexpected revelation. Other films will be: —Duke Ifahanamoku at Wellington, the world’s Olympic champion repeating his natatorial feats; "In the Grip of the Plumber" (another aquatic item), “A Horseshoe for Luck’/ (brings hick, but of the bad variety), “War Gazette" (some new facts). M AGMA RON'S THEATR E. Tho long-anticipated photo-dramatisa-tion of Marie Corelli’s supreme novel “Vendetta" will be produced for the first time at MacMahon’s Theatre to-day. This celebrated novel has the unique distinction of having been translated into four different languages and played upon the stage in three tongues. In its picture form—five full acts—it loses nothing of its stage intensity; in fact, it rather pains through the concentration incidental to its translation to picturv. The story is a typical Italian one. and the play was acted among the wild fastnesses of the Island of Sicily, which is the original home of the blood tend of the vendetta. With Italian _actore it loses nothing of its emotionalism, and the Hecla firm has produced one .of the most striking and impressive pictures of the season, and one which all picture natrons should make a point of seemgThere will bo the usual strong support-

ing programme with this Majestic film, chief in which mav be mentioned a delightful Edison comedy of life downstairs. entitled “Back to the Kitchen, and a particularly interesting instalment of the Rathe Gazetted “THE VIOLETS” The programme presented by Xho Vio.ews ■ Ui. tue concert chamber of (he Town Hall on Saturday night was net m variety and. quality, and met with warm appreciation. Miss Kate Gfieokcit was responsible for loud. applause ro r her fine rendition of “Carissima,” while “The Mississippi Dip” was contributed by the company in a snappy way whicn "reatly appealed to those present. Other items Which gave every satisfaction were contributed by Oswald Browne, Reward Hall, Shirley Cooke, Arthur I{ mcoe, Dorothy Gardner and Cuthbert Rose. There will be a repetition this evening. MADAM LINA NYBERGA ccmsideiablo period has elapsed since a recital from grand opera was given in Wellington, a fact winch should heighten interest in the appearance or Madam Lina Nyberg at the Grand Opeia House on Monday and Tuesday evenings of next week. Madam Nyberg is a Bm--ian operatic soprano of distinction, she is said to possess a voice of iare charm and sweetness, very flexible and of e'cnness throughout the registers At the two concerts announced tor next week the visiting artiste will sms a of favourite airs from . the works ot Bucoini, Verdi, Rossini, Gounod, Delibes, Felicien David and other composers. Madam Nyberg is the first Belgian artiste to appear in New Zealand since the outbreak of the war The box plan opens at the Bristol I lano G - next Thursday morning. PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA CONCERT. • The Wellington Rrofesionas! Orchestra gave their second concert of the season at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening before a crowded audience. The opening overture “Pique Dame” (von Suppe) was pleasingly performed throughout. An interesting item was the Prelude from Siberia” (Giordano), which was heard lor the first time in Wellington. _ This prehide is played before the curtain rises on the second act of this comparatively new opera. The subject expresses most characteristically the events about to be enaetd. On tho Russo-Siberian border, VasliTli, condemned' for having wounded prince Alexis: in a duel,, gives way to des, pair. Women and children wall their farewells to their dear ones who are being cent to Siberia. Everything breathes anguish and hopeless sorrow. The composition, though weird in parts, is so utterly impressive and the chords rich and harmonious that it created a most favourable impression. "Serenade” (Schubert), given as a cornet solo by Mr W. H. Bowman, was much enjoyed, the player’s tone and tempo being conspicuously mori. ionous. A well-established, favourite tjie overture “Ruy Bias” (Mendelssohn) gave • the orrebestra fullest opportunities and the result-) were distinctly creditable, notwithstanding the difficult iclimaxesThe bracketed numbers (a) “Minuet” (Boccherini) for strings only, ■ and (b) "Pizzicati” (Mathe), daintv compositions, were gracefully plaved. The programme concluded with the fantasia ‘‘Faust’ (Gounod), constructed on the duet "High Born and Lovely Maid,” “When all che World was Youn g." “Chorale of the Sword,” "O Tender Moon,” and the majestic “Soldiers’ Chorus.” The orchestra excelled in this composition, whether in the softer and pleading passages or in the strident chords of the final chorus. Owing co the indisposition of the conductor, Mr Herbert Blqv. his place was taken by Mr H. Moschini. who wielded the baton quite competently.